Definition of AFFABLE (original) (raw)
1
: being pleasant and at ease in talking to others
2
: characterized by ease and friendliness
Did you know?
Affable comes from Latin affārī, meaning "to speak to." Other fārī relatives—the word itself means "to speak"—are infant, fable, and fate, among others.
Did you know?
One of the peculiarities of the English language is that ungendered words (especially nouns) may occasionally take gendered pronouns or modifiers. A ship, for example, is often called "she." We also find that some general-purpose words (especially adjectives) tend to be used of one sex rather than the other. Such is the case with affable, which our records show is far more likely to be used to describe a man than a woman. This should not be taken as evidence that men are friendlier or easier to speak with (nor should you shy away from describing a woman as affable), but it does serve to illustrate the manner in which the word is often used.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for affable
the gracious award winner thanked her colleagues
cordial stresses warmth and heartiness.
our host was cordial as he greeted us
affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to conversation or requests or proposals.
though wealthy, she was affable to all
genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality.
a genial companion with a ready quip
sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others.
sociable people who enjoy entertaining
Examples of affable in a Sentence
Bertie's a bright, affable fellow, but every little success he has feels cheapened in comparison with his dad's overpowering accomplishments. —Lev Grossman, Time, 7 Feb. 2005 In repose, he can be affable and quite funny. But woe betide anyone who crosses him or who fails to perform to his demanding standards. —Anthony Bianco et al., Business Week, 9 Sept. 2002 The owner emerged from a galley kitchen … to explain that the restaurant was supposed to be closed. This roly-poly man with graying locks above a noble, high forehead was affable and articulate, not your average short-order cook. —John Krich, San Francisco Examiner, 21 Aug. 1994
a lively, affable young fellow as the show's affable host, she keeps the freewheeling gabfest from getting out of hand
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some viewers struggled to see him as an affable authority figure: a dad who’s having a hard time, and a doctor who’s really trying to help his patient. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Dec. 2024 Her character in this shaggy, affable message movie may be nameless, but the specifics of her performance howl with righteous intent. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 Long’s affable plot and cartoon-style art playfully convey the importance of being grateful for our families, fangs and all. —Jennifer Hubert Swan, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host turned right-wing podcaster—known for accusing the government of lying about the COVID-19 pandemic—has passed away at the age of 83. —Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for affable
Word History
Etymology
Middle English affabyl, borrowed from Anglo-French affable, borrowed from Latin affābilis, from affārī "to speak to, address" (from ad- ad- + fārī "to speak") + -bilis "capable of (being acted upon)" — more at ban entry 1, -able
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of affable was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near affable
Cite this Entry
“Affable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affable. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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Last Updated: 31 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
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